After weeks of the same weather pattern across much of Northern California, a low pressure and moisture eased on in from hurricane related storms on Wednesday evening. There was also a sharp decline in air temps reaching the lower 30's at the lake. Water temperatures dropped 5 degrees overnight ranging from 57 to 63 degrees. Thursday's fishing was off, and I have seen this type of scenario happen many times before, it's just a matter of the resident rainbows acclimating to the new water temps, and fishing will pick up again. A little more fishing pressure than last Sunday but still plenty of water and shoreline to find your own spot. I also heard a few good reports from the north end of the lake.
There was also a bite in the cold wind on Thursday as well, and the hatches of blood midge and callibaetis did not really happen, just a few bugs here and there. The wind would blow, then there would be a break, and at that time there were a few risers to target. The go to flies for dry fly trout stalking have been Jonny's UV blood midge emerger #14, and Spirit River's UV2 Adams Parachute #16. Catching a rainbow on the dry fly is worth 5 on the nymph, it's really special. A few tips to help you hook those dry fly eaters; Set the hook late after the take. Cast left or right of the last rise form and anticipate the take, if you have the right fly on, it will happen. These fish move slowly when taking helpless emergers, duns, and adults. It also helps to give your fly a twitch every now and then to make it appear it is a living aquatic insect.
Conditions will only improve as the weeks march on. Keep in mind that the hatches tend to disappear after water temperatures go below 55 degrees. The time for good quality dry fly fishing is now. Get after it....
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